"Uncle," Adrian called, fully awake as his magic lifted him out of the coffin, his brother doing the same beside him. Damian stretched, yawning and exposing fangs.
"Uncle?" Trevor asks, eyebrow raised. "This is your uncle?"
"Not by blood," Milo points out, rolling his eyes. "I know family is something you need to wrap your little head around, but we take care of each other." Trevor growled, taking a step forward with a hand on his whip, but Sypha warded him off with her hand.
"Great messenger, are these the soldiers you spoke of?" she asked, looking both men up and down. They both turned to Milo, tilting their heads in an uncanny mimic of each other.
"Your scholar and hunter, boys," Milo confirmed. "This is Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. A vampire hunter and a Speaker magician."
"Interesting," Damian hummed, finally putting his feet on the ground. A shiver raced through his limbs, his bare feet slapping against the cold floor. He approached with no fear, stopping a polite chatting distance from the Speaker-Belmont duo. "I have questions."
"Questions can wait," Adrian corrected, the sound of his sword exiting the sheath loud in the silence. "I think it's time to test this Belmont. Are you joining me?"
"You can measure your dicks by yourselves," Damian huffed, earning a cackle from Milo. He turned back to Sypha, humming. "I'm D. That's Alucard."
"Pleasure's mine," she chirped. Milo, amused beyond belief, lounged in the coffin, watching his boys. D and Sypha seemed to have opened up to each other with a game of twenty questions, asking one at a time. Trevor and Alucard were still having their pissing match, testing each other. Alucard snapped his fangs at him and the Belmont readied his whip. Sypha started paying attention when Trevor started losing, watching them fight with a keen eye. In turn, D started watching, too.
Milo stepped in when Alucard's fangs were at Belmont's throat and a knife was in his ribs, threatening his heart. He pulled them apart, laughing, before he settled more of his weight on one leg. He crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, chuckling when Alucard huffed and turned back to the coffin to retrieve his clothes. They both must have woken up and got comfortable, neither dressed in a shirt and their feet bare.
"That's enough, I think. A draw, for the most part! I'm proud," Milo chirped, looking between the contestants. He turned to D, humming a soft note. "Best get dressed, love. I think morning is approaching, and I wouldn't want you to fall ill."
"How the fuck is that going to work?" Trevor grouched, picking himself up off the ground. "Vampires can't walk around during the day. You expect us to travel by night?"
"Neither of us will combust in sunlight," D explained blandly. He caught his shirt when his brother tossed it to him. "Alucard is mostly unaffected, but I get something my mother called heat sickness. If I am in the sun too long, I start to overheat and burn."
"Humans do that too, you know," Sypha informed, rocking all the balls of her feet. "We can't stand extreme heat without aid."
"I doubt you actually catch fire," Alucard pointed out. "D does."
"It's unfortunate," D huffed, shoving on his boots. "I like the sun. I'm glad it's not as bad as when I was younger. I used to start burning at any drop of sunlight."
"Maybe that's because you're so cold," Alucard huffed, throwing D's extremely long sword at him. He caught it and strapped it to his back, taking his black cloak with a huff. "I'm never sleeping with you and your cold feet again."
D shook his head and started toward the exit. Sypha joined Trevor's side, raising an eyebrow at the brothers as the both of them move to what looked like a solid wall.
"The exit was that way," Trevor pointed out, thrusting his thumb over his shoulder.
"Yes, but we have horses outside," Alucard informed, tapping a rhythm on the stones. Sypha gasped as they folded away from each other, revealing a door.
"Indeed. Selene and Helios can carry you four with ease and should be able to pull a wagon should you find one," Milo confirmed, wandering out with them. He lit a ball of foxfire to illuminate the hallway for them, humming a light tune that the walls sung back to him.
"You've kept them all this time?" D asked. "Surely it was a hassle. How long were we asleep?"
"You've been asleep a year and some, loves. I told you when I gave them to you that they didn't need much keeping. They don't even need pens because they're well-trained. It's amazing what a little science and magic can accomplish together."
"Please don't tell me you have vampire horses," Trevor hissed. Milo simply rolled his eyes, glowing in the poor light.
"Not everything has vampirism as the answer, Stranger. Honestly, what a simple solution that causes so many problems. Imagine having to hunt for you and your steeds. What a mess." He waved his hand, rolling his wrists in a smooth motion. "People would be hunting you with pitchforks, you really could only travel during the night. Hassle."
Alucard knocked on the wall again, opening a door to a small glade in the surrounding forest. The grass was well-grazed and the small pond in the middle seemed to be perfect for the two mounts wandering its banks. D let out a sharp, one-note whistle, content when both mounts snapped to attention and trotted over.
Selene butted against Alucard's shoulder, snorting at him before butting him again. Helios simply settled nearby, shaking his head before moving to eat more grass.
"What kind of animals are these?" Sypha asked, offering her hand to Selene to sniff. The temperamental horse went to her easily, letting the magician pet her.
"They are breed for long-distance and endurance. I think the breed name is Clydesdale?" Milo hummed, offering a hand to Helios, smiling when the horse nuzzle him. "They've been modified with both magic and science. Dracula has some Forge Master friends and I had asked one of them for this."
"Where's their tack?" D asked, looking around.
"Just inside. Didn't want the rain to ruin the saddles."
"So," Trevor started, pinching the bridge of his nose, "we're just going as a merry band of idiots to kill Dracula?"
"Speak for yourself and your own stupidity," Alucard huffed. "Our father must be stopped."
"Yes, he does," Milo agreed. He was looking to the sky, greeted by the light of another day. "Go, then, knowing you are not alone. I'll be with you, always."
"You aren't coming with us?" Alucard asked softly, wandering over to his uncle and nuzzling the top of his head.
"No. I think my skill set should be used somewhere else," Milo sighed, curling into Alucard's side. "You know how to call me, loves. I'm always with you." He wandered over to D, standing on his toes and kissing his cheek, pulling the deep hood over his features. "Be safe."
"We'll try," D promised. "Be safe."
"I'll try," he parroted, whisking himself away in golden smoke.
-~ ~-There was harsh conversation echoing through the halls of Castlevania, the grand hall echoing with suspicion and arrogance.
"Enough!" Dracula ordered, raising from his throne. "End your prattling. I summoned you here as a court, not children in need of discipline."
"This is your inner court? Dracula, how the mighty sinks."
Everyone turned to stare at the man coming out from behind Dracula's throne, brushing fingers against his cheek as Dracula sat down again. He moved to settle across his lap, long legs peeking from his dress and his smile sickeningly sweet.
"Milo," Dracula greeted, letting the fox do as he will.
"Love," he responded, turning to face the inner court. "You're all arguing over children with a new toy. Maybe more like mutts with a bone."
"And who are you?" one of the vampires hissed, baring fangs. Milo rolled his eyes, but it was Cho that spoke up.
"You are a fox spirit," she hummed in her heavy accent, tilting her head as a show of respect. "From what I understand, it has been a long time since you've been home."
"It has been, yes," Milo agreed, standing and drifting down the stairs. The train of his dress didn't seem to hinder him, his bare feet making no sound on the marble floors. His tails unfurled from his lower back, his fox ears twitch with all the noise in the room. "Cho. It's been a while, has it not?"
"Indeed. You went by a different name, then."
"What can I say? A few hundred years in Europe and I've grown fond of their ways. Maybe, when all of this is done, I'll go home, remind myself of my origin."
"Who are you to boss us around, though? You're not even a part of the court! Not even a vampire!" Godbrand hissed, baring fangs.
"Child," Milo growled, a low, rumbling thing that sounded like thunder. "I've been a part of this court longer than you've been on the Earth. I promise you this, my word is much heavier than yours in this room." He huffed, returning to Dracula's side, taking the opposite side to the Forge Masters. "If I may, Dracula."
"Always, Milo."
"I suggest letting your human court take command," he offered, golden eyes landing on the Forge Masters. "I think they have a more focused point of view, closer to what you have in mind."
"I'm not gonna take orders from fucking humans!" Godbrand growled, taking a step toward the fox. Milo didn't even look at him.
"Your vampiric court is blinded by the blood and glory of it all, the excitement. I think that is the right course of action."
"Excuse me, if I may?" Isaac asked, stepping forward. Dracula waved him on. "You would take our counsel over theirs?"
"Oh, that's not even a competition," Milo snorted, giggling. "Humans, because of their shorter lifespan, are amazing at planning for the here and now. Vampires, even beings like me who are just as old, are stuck in our ways. Humans are flexible and adapt easily to their surroundings."
Isaac took the complement and moved back, nodding his head.
"I agree," Dracula sighed, sinking into his chair. When all the vampires started to complain, it was Milo who shut them up with a raised hand.
"Enough. He's made his decision. If you have a problem with it, you can speak with me. Am I clear, children?"
"Do not speak to us as if we are children! We're hundreds of years old!" another of the generals barked.
"And I am a thousand," Milo informed quietly. "I was around when your Lord Dracula took power, was there when Castlevania was merely a set of bricks. Do not speak of age until you can act like you're grown. Until you can talk to me like an adult instead of testy children, I will refer to you as such." Milo turned to Dracula, his posture softening with affection. He leaned down, kissed him on the cheek, and disappeared into the castle halls.
The echoing of a lullaby kept the court on edge, but nothing happened, no blood drawn, just a haunting tune to put the spirits to rest.
-~ ~-Milo was found in Dracula's study by the man himself, staring at the fire that he himself had been trapped in for long periods of time.
"Milo."
"Vladimir," he whispered back. "Your children are well."
"Our children," he corrected out of habit. "They were yours as much as they were ours." He took a seat in the winged-back chair, humming and pulling Milo closer as he fell into his lap, straddling his thighs.
"You hurt him."
"I know," Dracula cooed, running his fingers through golden hair. "I thought you wouldn't be helping me?"
"I'm not, but their babbling was giving me a headache." He tucked his nose into Dracula's throat, sighing at the smell of fire. "Isaac is a good choice, but Hector is not made for war."
"I'm aware, but he has chosen to help me, nonetheless."
"I see." They sat there for a long time, just soaking each other in. Milo's tails flowed around them like koi in a pond, at ease and sleepy.
"Will you be staying?" Dracula asked, murmuring into his blonde hair. He couldn't help but remember Lisa's, though hers was paler, more like her son's and less of Milo's striking gold.
"Depends," Milo shrugged lazily. "I told your sons I'd be there if they called. I'm waiting. If I wait here, will you be upset?"
"No…" Dracula said slowly, heartbroken and deep, like a stab wound. "This is your home, Milo. I'd never keep it from you, no matter our differences."
"But you won't stop for me," Milo accused softly, relaxed in Dracula's hands. "This is madness and you know it. This is the longest suicide note I've ever seen." He raised himself up so he could look down on Dracula, cupping his face. "I could end it for you. Make it painless. We could mix your ashes so you'll always be together, if you want. You don't have to kill the world with you."
Dracula looked at him for a long time, seeming to flip the idea over in his mind. Milo chuckled wetly, rubbing the blackened tip of his nose with Dracula's.
"The fact that you have to turn it over sickens me, I hope you know," he admitted quietly. "I'd do it, though. If that is what you want, love, I'd do anything to stop this."
"And what is 'this', Mila?" The fond nickname made him smile.
"This heartbreak of yours," he whispered against his lips, voice cracking. "This endless pool of sadness and rage. You're empty, Vladimir. You died with her, that day, all of us saw it. I just… don't want you to suffer more than you must." He made sure that Dracula was looking at him before continuing. "Me and the boys are not enough without her… I'd rather stake you than watch this slow-burning suicide."
"Why not simply do it, then? Why ask?"
"Because it's not my place to do so."
There was a thick silence and Milo sighed, breaking their locked eyes and tucking himself back under Dracula's chin, breathing in his scent.
"So it continues."